Gun game



J. F. EAKINS Jan. 6, 1942.

GUN GAME 3 Sheets-sheet 1 Filed Deo. 30, 1936 Jan. 6, 1942. J F EAK|N52,269,256

GUN GAME Filed Deo. so, 1936 s sheets-sheetz J. F EAKINS Jan. 6, 1942.

GUNl GAME Filed Dec.. 5o, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 6, 1942UNITED sTATEs-PATENT OFFICE GUN GAME John F. Eakins, Evanston', Ill.,assignor to Albert G. McCaleb, Evanston, Ill.

I Application December 30, 1936, Serial No. 118,210 1 Claim. (Cl.,T13-101.1)

unexpectedly. The energization of a target is indicated by theillumination of a lamp associated therewith. Each target has aphotoelectric cell which is operatively connected to the remainingapparatus only when the circuit of its associated lamp is completed.

The game apparatus comprises sound means responsive to a successfulshot, Visual means for indicating the number `of successful shots, andother features which will hereinafterbe fully described with referenceto the embodimentl of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings,in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the game apparatus; f

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic View and wiring diagram;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View through part of the apparatus, taken on theline 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan View, taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail View, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail View, taken on the line 6-6 of Figs. 4 and5, and

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail View, taken on the line 'l-l of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral I designates a cabinetlocated at the butt of the range. This cabinet serves as a support forthe gun II when the same is not in use. The gun is secured to thecabinet I0 by means of a cable I2, which includes a plurality ofconductors which will hereinafter be described.

Upon the cabinet I0 is a coin slide I3 of known type. When a .coin ofthe appropriate denominaapparatus may be designed for any desirednumber, either of targets or of shots permitted forl the payment of onecoin.

'I'he targets I4 may be formed 'to simulate flying ducks, oranyotherappropriate form of target may be employed. The targets I4 maysuitably be transparent `igures arranged upon a black background on asheet of glass I5. The'sheet of glass I may suitably form the front wallof a box-like frame I6 which may, for example, be

supported ona wall. Within the box-like frame I6 are provided housingsIl, one foreach of the targets I4; Each housing I1 includes anincandescent lamp I8 and a'photoelectric cell I9. The' photoelectriccell I9 is enclosed within a housing so that it is noli; illuminated bythe lamp I8.

The lhousing 20 comprises a forwardly, projecting tubular portion V2Iwhich isV directed outwardly towards'the target I4. When the lamp I8 ofa target is illuminated, the whole target; is seen as a bright objectwith the exceptionof a portion corresponding to the tube 2l, which isdark and serves as the'object to be aimed at.

Also contained Within 'the box-like frame is a sound producing device 22of the general form of a bellows, provided with a Vreed structure 23which is caused to emit a sound when the bellows is contracted. Thebellows is adapted `to be contracted by the movement of an armature24'into a solenoid 25 When that solenoid'is energized; The bellows 22may include a spring 26 which tends to return the bellows to initialposition when the solenoid 25 is no longer energized.

The gun II comprises a barrel 21 through Whichlight is adapted to beprojected from an incandescent lamp- 28 located Within the gun. A

matically almost immediately after it is closed lens 29 may be locatedin the barrel `2`I so `as to concentrate the'beam of light into smallcompass. The trigger 3D controls a switch 3I -of any suitable type whichis adapted to open autoby Ithe trigger 30. The switch 3I and lamp 28 arein series and are provided withleads 32 and tion is inserted by means ofthe coin slide I3,

33 which are located within the cable I2. The cabinet I0 is connecte-dlto the box-like frame I6 by means of a cable 34 and electric energy maybe supplied to the cabinet IU by means of leads 35 and 36 from anysuitable source.

The remainder of the apparatus is located .within the cabinet I0. Thus,a switch drum 31 is rotatably mounted within the cabinet IIJ. This drummay be of any suitable construction, but it is preferred' to constructit as shown in Fig. 5. As shown in thisV figure the drum comprises aperipheral member 38 upon which is carried a cylinder of insulation 39.A metallic. sleeve or cylinder 40 is mounted over the cylinder 39, and acylinder 4I of insulation is mounted over the metal cylinder 40.

Five circumferential series of plugs 42 are threaded into the cylinder4I so that they lie flush therewith and make contact with the metalcylinder 40. The plugs 42 of the various circumferential series arestaggered in the circumferential direction of the drum, as shown in Fig.4. A plurality of brushes 43, corresponding in number to the number oftargets I4 and the number of circumferential series of plugs 42, iscarried,

by strips of insulation 44 carried by Ithe cabine-t. Owing to theirregular manner of locating the plugs 42 on the surface of the drum,only one of these plugs will make contact with one of the brushes 43 atany time. Furthermore, the number of plugs 42 is sufficiently great thatthe order in which the contacts 42 engage the brushes 43 is quiteirregular. Thus, if we number the various circumferential series ofplugs 42 in the downward direction, as viewedin Fig. 4, then the brusheswill be energized in the following order: 4, l, 2, 3, 5, 4, 2, 1, 3, 2,4, 5, 3, l, etc. The order in which the brushes are energized controlsthe order in which the targets are energized and illuminated and,consequently, the player receives no warning as to which target is goingto be energized next during the operation of the game.

Means are provided whereby the drum 31 is rotated for a certain amounteach time that a coin is inserted to release the apparatus for play.Thus, I may pivotally mount on the coin slide I3 a laterally projectingdog 45 which is pressed against a stop 46 into the position shown inFig. 4, by means of a coil spring 41. When the coin slide I3 is forcedinwardly the dog 45 strikes the upper end of an arm 48 pivotally mountedon the shaft 49 of the drum 31. A spring 58, secured to a stationaryframe within the cabinet and to the lower end of the arm 48, tends tohold this arm in the position shown in Fig. 3 with a projection 5I ofthe arm in contact with a stationary stop 52. When the coin slide I3approaches the innermost end of its stroke, as shown in dash and dotlines in Fig. 3, the dog 45 clears the arm 48 so that it sharply resumesits normal position under the influence of the spring 50.

The arm 48 carries a pawl 53 which is adapted to engage a ratchet wheel54 which is rigid with the drum 31. During this return movement of thearm 48, the pawl 53 engages the ratchet wheel 54 and causes the drum 31to rotate rapidly in the counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig.3. When the arm 48 is thrown to its outermost position, as shown in dashand dot lines in Fig. 3, it displaces the lever 55 forwardly for apurpose hereinafter to be described.

The drum 31 is adapted to be driven step by step in thecounter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, by means of a solenoid56. This solenoid v cooperates with an armature 51 which is pivotallyconnected to an arm 58 pivotally mounted on the shaft 49. The arm 58 haspivotally mounted thereon a pawl 59 which is adapted to cooperate with aratchet wheel 60 which is rigidly connected to the drum 31. Also rigidlymounted on the shaft 49 is a star wheel 6I which is adapted to beengaged by a rod 62 so as to cause the drum 31 to be located in any oneof a plurality of definite positions. Each of these definite positionsbrings one of the plugs 42 into contact with one of the brushes 43.

The rod 62 is pivotally connected to a plunger 63 of a dashpot cylinder64. The rod 62 is also pivotally connected to a lever 65 which ismounted on a fixed pivot. A spring 66, connected to the lever 65 and toa stationary point, biases the spring 65 so as to force the pointed endof the rod 62 against the periphery of the star wheel 6I. On theunderside, the coin slide I3 has pivotally mounted thereon a dog B1.When the coin slide I3 is forced inwardly, the `dog 61 engages the lever65 and forces the rod 62 away from the star wheel 6I. As the inwardmovement of the coin slide I3 is continued, the lever 65 clears the dog61 and the spring 66 tends to carry the rod 62 back into cooperativerelation with the star wheel 6I. Owing to the action of the dashpot 64,some time elapses before the rod 62 thus returns and the drum 31 isadapted to rotate freely for a short time before it is again arrested bythe rod 62.

The cabinet I0 also contains two counting devices 68 and 89. Thecounting device 68 is a main switch mechanism which regulates the numberof shots which may be fired for each coin. It comprises a ratchet wheel10 which is biased in the clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, by aspring 1 I. The ratchet wheel 1I) rigidly carries a switch arm 12 whichis adapted to cooperate with the contacts 13. The contacts 13 areconnected in series and correspond in number to the number of shotspermitted for one coin which, in the present embodiment of theinvention, is ve.

The lever 55 carries a pawl 14 which cooperates with the ratchet 1U andis adapted to prevent rotation of this ratchet under the influence ofthe spring 1I. When, however, the lever 55 is displaced by the arm 48 inthe manner hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 3, the pawl 14is moved away from the ratchet wheel 18 and, consequently, the spring 1Imoves the ratchet 1U and switch arm 12 into the dotted line positionshown in Fig. 2, at which position they are arrested by a stop 15. Inthis position the switch arm 12 is in engagement with the first contact13.

The lever 55 is held in its normal position by a spring 16. A lever 11is pivotally mounted adjacent the ratchet wheel 10 and carries a detent18. The lever 11 is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 2, bymeans of a spring 8|, with the detent 18 out of engagement with theratchet wheel 10. The armature 19 of a solenoid 80 is pivotallyconnected to the lever 11. When the solenoid 8D is energized, the lever11 moves downwardly and engages the ratchet wheel 10, causing it torotate so as to move the switch arm 12 one step-that is, from onecontact 13 to the next contact. The last step moves the arm 12 away fromall the contacts 13 and the circuit of the machine is broken, as willhereinafter be described.

The lever 55 is connected by a link 82 to another pivot lever 83. Thislever carries a pawl 84 which cooperates with a ratchetwheel 85 of thecounting mechanism 69 in the same manner as the pawl 14 cooperates withthe ratchet wheel 10. A switch arm 86 is rigidly carried by the ratchetwheel and is` adapted to reach an initial position determined by a stop81 under the influence of a spring 88, when the lever 83 is movedsimultaneously with the lever 55 on the insertion of a coin and theactuation of the coin slide I3. The ratchet wheel 85 is adapted to berotated step by step in the opposite directionthat is, the clockwisedirection as viewed in Fig. 2, by means of a detent 89 carried by apivoted lever 90. The lever 90 is actuated by a solenoid 9I, thev numberof shots permitted by the insertion of l each coin. In this embodimentthat number is 5. When the lever 83 is swung in the manner described,the spring 88 throws the switch arm 86 into the yposition shown indotted lines in Fig. 2. When the solenoid 9| yis energized, which occurswhen the marksman makes a hit, the arm 86 is moved into engagement withthe rst contact 94. At each successive hit the arm 86 is moved intoengagement with the next contact 94. Each of the contacts 94 isconnected to a signal lamp 95, these lamps being suitably arranged onthe cabinet I so as to indicate visually the number of hits which havebeen made by the marksman.

The cabinet I0 also includes an amplifier 96 which is connected in themanner hereinafter described. 'Ihe power line 35 is connected directlyto the amplifier 96 to supply energy thereto. The power line 36 isconnected through electromagnets 91 to the lamps I8. The other terminalsof these lamps are connected individually to the brushes 43. The powerline 36 is also connected through pole 98 and pole 99 of a double poleswitch to the solenoid 25 and the solenoid 9|, respectively. 'I'he otherterminals of these solenoids are connected to the power line 35. Thepowerline 36 is 'connected to the switch arms 86 and 12, respectively.The contacts 13 are connected to a brush |00 which is in continualengagement with the cylinder 40 of conductive material and,consequently, with the plugs 42 which make Contact with the brushes 43.The contacts 13 are also connected to the lead 32 previously referredto, and to the other power terminal of the amplifier 96. The power line35 is connected to terminals of the signal lamps 95 and to one terminalof the solenoid 80.

The output of the amplifier 96 is connected to an electromagnet |0|which is adapted, when energized, to move the poles 98 and 99 to closedposition. One conductor |02 of the input circuit of the amplifier isconnected to each of the photoelectric cells |9. The other terminals ofthese cells are connected through switches |03 to the other line |04 ofthe input circuit of the amplier. electromagnets 91, each switch |03being associated with the electromagnet 91 in series with the lamp I8which is associated with the particular photoelectric cell I9 controlledby that switch |03.

A time delay switch |05 is inserted in the line 32 so as to preventoperation of the gun until the tubes of the amplifier have warmed up toan operating temperature.

The operation is as follows. Initially, the position of the main switcharm 12 is that shown in Fig. 2. The switch arm 86 is normally found in aposition indicating the score of the last player. Thus, it is shown in aposition which completes a circuit through the third lamp 95, indicatingthe previous marksman has made three hits. This circuit is completedfrom power line 36, switch arm 86, third contact 94, third lamp 95 andpower line 35. To free theapparatus for shooting, it is necessary toinsert a coin in the coin slide I3 and to push the coin slide inwardlyinto the position indicated in dotted The switches |03 are associatedwith the lines in Fig. 3. In so doingfthe arm 48 is pushed into theposition shown in dash'andy dot lines in Fig. 3 and is released so thatit swings rapidly into its initial positionunder the influence of thespring 50. v

The pawl53 carried bythe arm 48 causes the drum 31`to spin. The rod'62is held out of engagement with the star wheel 6I so as to enable thisspinning to take place. After aA short time. however, the arm 62 movesinto engagement with the star wheel 6l and holds the drum 31 in one kofits predeterminedpositions with one of the brushes 43 in engagement withone of the plugs 42. As shownin Fig. 4, for example, the third brush isin engagement with the third yplug 42.

The movement of the arm- 48 displaces they lever 55, with the resultthat the pawls 14 and 84 are withdrawn from their ratchet wheels andthese wheels rotate under the influence of their springs so as to bringthe switch arm 12 into engagement with the rst of the contacts 13 andthe switch arm 86 out of engagement with all of the contacts 94. Theparticular lamp which was illuminated now goes o-ut and the main switchconstituted by the switch arm 12, completes a circuit through theparticular lamp I8 associated with the third brush 43. 'Ihe completionof the energization of this lamp circuit energizes the associatedelectromagnet 91 and closes the switch |03 which connects thephotoelectric cell I9 associated with that particular lamp I8 to theamplifier 96.

When the main switch arm 12 closes the main circuit, the power circuitof the amplifier 96 is completed and the tubes warm up. When thisoccurs, the delay switch |05 closes and the gun now can be aimed andoperated so as to project a flash. If the markman directs the guncorrectly, the projected ash impinges upon the photoelectric cell I9 ofthe particular object which is energized. That energization is indicatedto the marksman by the illumination of one of the objects. When themarksman pulls the trigger to lilluminate the lamp 28, the circuitthrough the lamp is completed through the solenoids 56 and 80. Theresult is that the drum 31 is rotated one step by means of the pawl 59and ratchet wheel 60 so that a different target is illuminated. Thus, anew target is presented whether or not the marksman has `been successfulin hitting his target, and which particular target is thereuponenergized is unknown to the marksman until the target is energized asshown by its illumination. If the marksman is successful, the inputcircuit of the amplier receives an impulse from the photoelectric cell,which impulse is amplied and is suicient to energize the electromagnetIOI, closing the circuits through the solenoid 25 and the solenoid 9|.

The energization of the solenoid 25 operates the bellows 22, whichcauses the emission of a sound to indicate a hit. The energization ofthe solenoid 9| causes the switch arm 86 to move one step intheclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2. Consequently, when the iirsthit is made, the first lamp 95 becomes illuminated, when the next hit ismade the second lamp 95 is illuminated, and so on. Each time the trigger30' is pulled to emit a flash, the solenoid 89 is energized and theswitch arm 12 moves step by step in the clockwise direction, as viewedin Fig. 2, When 5 shots have been red, the switch arm 12 moves away fromall of the contacts 13 and the main circuit of the apparatus is openedand the apparatus cannot be used until a further coin is inserted by thecoin slide I3.

It will thus be seen that I have provided an apparatus in which aplurality of targets are energized in succession, the order ofsuccession being unknown to the marksman in advance. Furthermore, myapparatus provides for the presentation of a new target each time thegun is fired, Whether the aim has been successful or not. It is also tobe noted that in this game a successful hit is indicated both bysound-pro ducing means and by Visual means.

Although the invention has been disclosed in connection with thespecific details of a preferred embodiment thereof, it must beunderstood that such details are not intended to be limitative of theinvention except in so far as set forth in the accompanying claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

. In a gun game apparatus, in combination, a plurality of 'targetsadapted to be energized one at a time, a circuit connected to eachtarget, a contact drum having a plurality of contacts adapted tocomplete said circuits one at a time, said contacts being arrangedirregularly upon the drum, a coin slide for freeing the apparatus forplay, and means cooperating with the coin slide for rotating the drum toa random initial position. l

JOHN F. EAKINS.

